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Abstract
A significant proportion of clients entering substance-abuse treatment have children who may need help and support. The study examines whether and, if so, how children are seen and noticed and what concrete actions are taken to help children both directly and through supporting the parenting of clients in outpatient substance-abuse treatment. These questions are investigated by means of qualitative analysis of data gathered from 17 professionals in the substance-abuse treatment field in Finland. In most cases, minimal information was collected about children at client entry. It seems to be general practice to ask only whether the client has children and how old they are. Children are seldom met in person in substance-abuse treatment, and they rarely receive direct help. Tools to support parenting are inadequate or totally lacking. The reasons given by the interviewees for the exclusion of children relate to workers’ views on the role of substance-abuse treatment. Possible skills and tools to support parenting and children were reported to originate mainly from sources other than training and working in substance-abuse treatment. Practices and tools specially designed to help children in the substance-abuse treatment context along with better understanding of the role of the substance-abuse treatment system in helping these children are needed.